The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05
THE PANAMA CANAL.
An Engineers Reasons Why II VIII
Never Be Built.

An Engineers Reasons Why II VIII
Never Be Built
New York Special to the Globe Democrat.
Mr.. A. G. Mcnocal, chief engineer Of
the proposed Nicaragua canal, said to re-
porter today, at the Fifth Avenue hotel,
that he was surprised to hear that De Les
seps intended to put locks in the Panama
canal.
"Will that interfere with the progress Of
work."
mo; for the progress is scarcely per-
ceptible. What astonishes me moro than
anything is that NJ. De Lesseps should
change his plans from sea-level TO q lock
canal. The last time he was in the city he
said before a number of engineers that if
he had found II necessary TO put locks in
the canals he would long since have given
up the idea OF carrying on the work. Why
he changed his plans, and how the addi-
tional expense TO be incurred, will strike
the shareholders, Is matter for contempla-
ton. There may be many objections to
the new program
"Will locks make any difference in the
success or failure OF the Canal?"
"From the present view | am inclined
10 think that they will only add millions
TO the expense account without bringing
the canal any nearer completion. A sea-
level canal, as | have repeatedly said, is
impractcable at Panama, and will be a
failure. As 10 the use OF locks, / think
they will certainly facilitate the success OF
the canal II 1t were possible TO predict any
kind OF n success. During the rainy sea-
son Of the year locks would be OF great
advantage and facilitate traffic, but in the
dry periods, say from January TO May,
there will not be enough water TO
| supply the locks. NJ. De Iesseps
evidently intended 20 rely upon the
| Chagres river for his supply OF
water, but il nearly dries up every season.
| lie cannot get water TO I'LL the locks, hence
three months Of the year the canal would
be practically useless. There is no way,
either, for him 10 gather enough water In
reservoirs TO work the locks. II would
take about ten locks for the canal, and the
cost OF each lock would he very great. NJ.
DE Lesseps said, when he began the canal,
that SlOO,0OO,0O0 would be sufficient "a
complete IT, Already he has spent over
twice that sum, and only one-fiiih Of the
canal is completed. These locks will prob,
| tiNlA @t'fNNNfNNN VI H'NiNNNtNNN w WV
cost OF construction"
"Then you do not think the canal viii
ever be buill2"
"No, and VI. De Lcsscps is simply lik,
n drowning man catching at straws in thi
movement TO put ia locks. Ii water coulC
be had in sufficient quantity, the lock
would be the only way to build the canal
A sea-level canal is out OF the question
An American dredging company has don
about the only thing worth mentioning OF
the canal, and that is only eight miles
am told that the water Is only eight an'
twelve feet deep in this small stretch o
canal. That shows what the average deptl
would be II il should ever be finished
With such canal, the traffic through !
would not pay the interest on the bonds
much less dividend. I think II woul,
require SjOO,OOO,O 900 To put the PanamI
canal through, and such a sum cannot b,
rcascd. Locks or nc locks, the Panami
canal will be, In my judgment, a failure.